Pets at Home comments on what No 10 can expect from their new inhabitant – Dilyn – during his first few months in office.
As Boris and Carrie settle into their home following the arrival of their little bundle of joy, who has an impressive amount of power already – what can staff at No 10 expect from a new top dog?
Boris will no longer be top dog – Dilyn will require more attention than any other household member. Puppies require at least three hours of care a day for training, socialising and walking.
Barking will drown out any mention of Brexit – Doorbells, people and loud sounds may send Dilyn into an outbreak of barking due to anxiety. Playing calm music or turning on the television may help to muffle these sounds.
Household accidents are inevitable – There is likely to be pee and poop in the private residence and possible entertaining areas. Dilyn will need to get into a daily toilet training routine and stick to it.
Furniture (hopefully not artwork) and shoes are likely to be chewed – Chewing not only facilitates teething but also makes sore gums feel better. It’s likely Dilyn will be given a chew toy to stop him wrecking the Prime Minister’s furniture.
Larry the cat may not behave very nicely to his new colleague – Bringing a dog into a house with an established cat could be overwhelming for both pets. Larry and Dilyn should be slowly introduced to one another, using each other’s blankets to familiarise them with each other’s smells.
Stress levels will be reduced – Cuddling a puppy is likely to boost staff moods, get endorphins flowing and release tension.
Karlien Heyrman BVMS&S MRCVS, Head of Pets at Pets at Home, advises: “For anyone adopting a new puppy, household members need to be ready for the kind of commitment that they bring. Think about how much space you may have at home, and how and where you’ll provide daily play time and exercise. Even small breeds will need at least one or two short walks every day, while garden access is useful for late and early morning toilet trips.
“Make sure you have the time to devote to training and socialising a puppy. A dog’s adult behaviour is influenced by what it learns as a puppy, so time invested in the early months will make a huge difference to your pet’s future health and happiness.”
